Huge drop in heart deaths
Colin, 99, is Britain’s oldest crime-fighter at CCTV HQ
CRIME-fighter Colin Cole may be 99 but he is still focused on nailing crooks.
The war veteran reports for duty as a police CCTV observer twice a week to spot shoplifters, pub brawlers and other thugs.
Colin, who turns 100 on June 12, monitors feeds from 20 West Mercia Police cameras trained on Oswestry, Shrops.
He became Britain’s oldest police volunteer in 2015 after the death of his wife of 74 years, Joan.
The former aircraft radio operator first volunteered when he joined the Met as a Special Constable after the Second World War.
He said: “In those days there were no radios, you just had to ring in every two hours from a police box whilst out on your beat. The only way we could call for help was with a whistle.”
Colin joined the RAF in the late 30s and was thrown into action in the war.
He said: “I was posted as radio operator on a reconnaissance plane flying over enemy lines. It was a dangerous job and many lives were lost.”
After the war, Colin trained as a teacher and moved to Oswestry with Joan, who did the same job.
Oswestry Volunteer CCTV co-ordinator Jim Stafford said: “Colin is a valuable part of our team. He volunteers without fail every Tuesday and Friday.” JIM STAFFORD OSWESTRY VOLUNTEER CCTV CO-ORDINATOR ON COLIN’S ROLE Colin sits by bank of police CCTV monitors DEATHS from heart disease in the UK have nearly halved in a decade.
Scientists believe it is mostly down to people quitting smoking.
Fatalities from the UK’s biggest killer fell from 80 per 100,000 to 46 between 2005-2015, said an Imperial College London study.
But Dr Alexandra Nowbar said other risks could mean the death toll starts to increase again.
She said: “Obesity, blood pressure and rates of type 2 diabetes are on the rise.”
Colin is a valuable part of our team. He volunteers every Tuesday and Friday without fail